Fairfield torture killing suspects back in court

Five of the seven Fairfield residents charged with torture and homicide for their roles in the alleged beating, kidnapping and shooting death of a Fairfield man last year appeared in Solano County Superior Court on Friday.

The charges stem from the death of Osby, whose body was discovered on May 13 bound and blindfolded in the parking lot of the Springbrook Masonic Temple in Vallejo. Osby's badly beaten body was found with a gunshot wound to the head.

On Friday, Bigoski, Whittington and Tina Odom pleaded not guilty to the charges. Miller and Armstrong had their arraignments put over until March 1, when all seven defendants are due back in court. On Thursday, Askari-Roberts also pleaded not guilty, while Ryan Odom's arraignment was continued to March 1.

Prosecutors are also charging all but Whittington and Miller with two enhancements that would make them eligible for the death penalty. The special circumstances allege: murder involving the infliction of torture, and murder committed in the course of a kidnapping.

Deputy District Attorney Julie Underwood announced on Friday that the District Attorney's Office is still conducting its death penalty review and has yet to decide whether to seek capital punishment in the applicable cases.

According to preliminary hearing testimony, Ryan Odom was upset at Osby for allegedly stealing a laptop and PlayStation 3 from her San Andreas Street home on a previous occasion. With all of the other defendants present at the home, Odom ordered Whittington to call Osby and invite him over so that she could "confront" him about the thefts, witnesses said.

Drawn into a converted-garage bedroom, Osby fell to the ground after being struck by a baseball bat-wielding Bigoski, and Armstrong proceeded to tape Osby's arms behind his back while Miller and Askari-Roberts helped hold him down, according to police testimony regarding statements made after the incident.

Trying to figure out what to do with Osby, Armstrong told police the suspects procured a van from Askari-Roberts, who worked for a cab company. Armstrong told detectives that Bigoski and Miller loaded Osby's body into the rear of the van, police testified.

Prosecutors believe Armstrong killed Osby in the Vallejo parking lot and returned to Fairfield with the cab.